After receiving his Chemistry Degree in 1989 from Washington University in St. Louis, Todd joined a research lab at Washington University's Medical School. He built his first computer databases to track vials of frozen bacteria. After seven years and co-author credits for over a dozen peer-reviewed scientific papers, he left to start making database software for businesses. He has become convinced that businesses should strive to customize and control the software that runs key parts of their business. His company, Geist Interactive, believes that custom software is a RIGHT, and they help their customers exercise that right.